Fight for SA’s Rhino takes to the air

The South African National Parks (SANParks) unveiled the GAZELLE – a military spec helicopter – that will bolster their current fleet involved in Anti-Poaching.

It was donated by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation in association with Paramount, a leading African aerospace and defence group, and is part of an on-going capacity building partnership announced almost one year ago. The Foundation has previously donated a Seeker MKII Surveillance aeroplane, which has been operating in the KNP since December last year.

The GAZELLE has been purposefully configured by Paramount’s Advanced Technology Division, and will vastly increase areas that can be traversed and has additional equipment to increase aerial support. It has a maximum airspeed of 310km/h, a range of 670km and service ceiling of 5000 meters. The GAZELLE will bring the advantages of a light attack helicopter to the aid of SANParks Anti-Poaching operations the minute it takes to the air.

This superior addition to the arsenal has been widely welcomed. “We are grateful to have patriotic partners like the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, says , Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, They understand our needs, the GAZELLE and Seeker plane are just part of their greater involvement which has included provision of fuel, pilots, specialised training and operational capacity.”

Ivor Ichikowitz is Chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and founder of the Paramount Group. “A critical part of this helicopter’s capabilities is its speed operating at 320km p/hour 310km, says Ichikowitz, “and the fact that the GAZELLE has a night vision capable cockpit.”

Speaking on the rhino population in the KNP, Mabunda outlined the results of a census taken a few months ago, saying despite the poaching onslaught, the 2013 rhino census in Kruger NP estimated that there are between 8400 and 9600 white rhino. These numbers were estimated by SANParks scientists using a 40% block count survey method.

The census took 3 weeks to complete in September, making use of 3 helicopters with a total of 220 flight hours. The bottom line is that escalating poaching, counteracted by increased anti-poaching operations, has resulted in relatively stable rhino numbers in Kruger since 2008.”We are certain that without intense anti-poaching operations, Kruger’s rhino population would have begun to decline significantly by now” said Mabunda.